P&P June 2016

director‘s memo By Tracy Wareing Evans

APHSA’s National Summit Showcases Interactive Policy and Practice Discussions

T his issue of Policy & Practice is dedicated to showcasing the many efforts underway across the nation to improve the well-being of all Americans and enhance the impact and effectiveness of our health and human service system. In this pivotal presidential election year, we are focused on elevating these proven practices and promising innovations to build a well-framed story of our collective work and, ulti- mately, to influence policy changes at the national level and encourage broader adoption of what works. To support this objective, this year we have transformed our annual Policy Forum into a National Health and Human Services Summit, designed to provide a venue for interac- tive policy and practice discussions shaped by the Human Services Value Curve and Pathways frameworks. FromMay 22–25, we are pleased to welcome long- standing members, strategic partners, and newcomers to this National Summit at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA. The Summit offers a variety of sessions designed to highlight the newest and most important information on practice trends, legislative and regula- tory solutions, as well as the role that each of us plays in advancing health and human service system transformation. Among the Summit sessions are inspiring and impactful TED-style talks from experienced national human service leaders who will reflect on key policy issues shaping our work; speed dating sessions that provide first-hand expe- rience on the newest and most innovative technologies, programs, and research; workshops covering a broad range of topics and issues central to our collective work; and general sessions that highlight the Summit’s theme— Inspire, Innovate, Impact —and help us better understand the current environmental context in which we are oper- ating and what it is likely to mean for the future of health and human services. Highlights of the Summit include remarks from Dr. Beth Cohen, from the University of California Davis Center for Human Services, who will explore what we know and continue to learn about how the brain functions. Her compelling session, “Human Services Leadership and Neuroscience,” will be followed by a hands-on session designed to help you manage stress and maximize engage- ment in your work. Other general sessions will include remarks on the current political climate and presidential elections fromMichael D. Gottlieb, executive director and

general counsel of the National Journal Group’s Policy Brand Roundtable and chair of the National Policymakers’ Council; and a panel discussion with national leaders led by our partners at Governing magazine on how the changing fiscal and political landscape is affecting the health and human service system now and into the future. Workshops offered throughout the conference will focus on issues important to state and local CEOs and deputies, agency administrators, and program and operations special- ists. Speakers from the public and private sectors with deep experience in health and human services will participate and offer their insights. The workshops focus on four major categories: (1) employment and economic well-being, (2) collaboration across health and human services, (3) child and family well-being, and (4) innovations in practice, program delivery, and operations. These sessions will provide insights on fresh approaches to problem solving and the ways that the Human Services Value Curve and APHSA’s Pathways can help each of us achieve our goals. Specific

See Director’s Memo on page 38

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June 2016 Policy&Practice